Thread by @MatthewFoldi

NEW from me @Newsweek:

Thanks to @RepJasonSmith, @drewbrees was a special guest speaker at last week's @HouseGOP retreat in Orlando.

I went through Brees's Hall of Fame career to show why he was a good choice.

newsweek.com/drew-brees-was…

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Obviously, @drewbrees knows about adversity, and he brought a lifetime of lessons to the @HouseGOP retreat

The NFL superstar joined the House GOP in swapping suits for resortwear at the retreat, where Republicans gameplanned the next 2 years

newsweek.com/drew-brees-was…

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Teamwork was stressed throughout the retreat, which concluded with Brees giving Republicans a pep talk about teamwork and overcoming adversity. #UT04's @RepBurgessOwens, himself a Super Bowl winner, introduced @drewbrees and told me Brees's remarks were newsweek.com/drew-brees-was…… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

Brees' star power was undeniable. While #MS04's @RepEzell was in the middle of praising @drewbrees's "phenomenal" talk to me, raving about how Brees overcoming adversity "back to when he played in San Diego and hurt his shoulder and he ended up going to newsweek.com/drew-brees-was…… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

#MS04's @RepEzell, starstruck, happily posed for a picture with the southern icon. #MI04's @RepHuizenga even tried unsuccessfully to recruit @drewbrees to come out of retirement to join his @Lions.

newsweek.com/drew-brees-was…

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House Republicans see themselves as playing differing positions in helping achieve their Super Bowl, which is an expanded majority. Almost all likened @SpeakerMcCarthy to their head coach or quarterback, and they see themselves as everything from offensive newsweek.com/drew-brees-was…… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

The @HouseGOP caucus doubtless found Brees's career relatable. From high school to college to the NFL, @drewbrees's doubters bet against him time and again.

newsweek.com/drew-brees-was…

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After the quarterback's stint with the San Diego Chargers, Nick Saban wanted him on the Miami Dolphins. However, Miami's "doctor didn't know his ass from a handful of sand," in Saban's words, and failed @drewbrees' physical.

newsweek.com/drew-brees-was…

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Humbled by the Red Wave-turned-Red Trickle in 2022, Republicans similarly started off in turmoil, including days of massive infighting that simply prolonged the inevitable: the House speakership for @SpeakerMcCarthy.

newsweek.com/drew-brees-was…

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It took the Republicans a few weeks to land on their feet, but they have since scored impressive victories. Their most prominent so far came when House Democrats sided with the radical D.C. City Council in trying to turn our nation's capital city into "The newsweek.com/drew-brees-was…… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

While down south, Republicans sketched out their offensive game plan. Here they were able to look to their conference's star guest for inspiration. Throughout his career, Brees was dogged for lacking arm strength. So he relied on a "spread offense," newsweek.com/drew-brees-was…… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

Everyone from #GA09 @Rep_Clyde, who authored the bill to save D.C. from itself, to #MI05 @RepWalberg, who authored key parts of the Parents Bill of Rights, have scored wins, and McCarthy was praised by members for spreading his offense.

newsweek.com/drew-brees-was…

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As they look to cement future wins, Republicans are making energy independence their agenda's primary goal, rolling out a signature piece of legislation, HR1 (along with a seven-figure ad campaign from @AAN). #LA01 @SteveScalise told me that energy newsweek.com/drew-brees-was…… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

Beyond Biden's bad policy, #LA01 @SteveScalise said, is the president's hypocrisy of railing against fossil fuels in America while flying Air Force One (which, he noted, doesn't have solar panels) and begging adversarial countries to supply us with energy newsweek.com/drew-brees-was…… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

Additionally, the issue of border security came up time and again—and not only that of America's southern border with Mexico. #NY21 @RepStefanik emphasized that the northern border with Canada is also porous.

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#TN07's @RepMarkGreen, Chair of @HomelandGOP, told me he's optimistic Democrats will actually work with Republicans on common-sense issues like getting more border patrol agents.

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#OH04's @Jim_Jordan, Chair of @JudiciaryGOP, was less optimistic. "I really wasn't surprised that Democrats boycotted" field hearings that Republicans hosted in border towns, he told me.

newsweek.com/drew-brees-was…

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As @drewbrees knows, even the best quarterbacks can't win without a strong defense, and Republicans are eager to turn setbacks around. There was excitement at the retreat about Biden's veto of bipartisan legislation that prevents pensions from investing newsweek.com/drew-brees-was…… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

#CA20's @SpeakerMcCarthy told me it's "sad" that Biden vetoed the bill, and criticized him for "invoking politics into how people invest their money." #NC10 @PatrickMcHenry, Chair of @FinancialCmte told me that financial institutions like Silicon Valley newsweek.com/drew-brees-was…… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

#MI04's @RepHuizenga echoed this view, saying that despite Biden's veto, "we can't give up. Despite this, that doesn't mean we should throw up our hands and go 'I guess [Securities and Exchange Commission chair] Gary Gensler is just going to have it the newsweek.com/drew-brees-was…… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

As the conference ended, #MI04 @RepHuizenga and #WI06 @RepGrothman—who both represent key swing states—told me that "we can't keep saying the same thing the same way and expect [voters] to react differently" and that Republicans can't shy away from newsweek.com/drew-brees-was…… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

If @drewbrees' career success is any indication, the Midwesterners are right that the GOP should pursue a variety of policy goals. The future hall of famer has thrown touchdowns to more than 60 players, from legends like @AntonioGates85 and @DarrenSproles newsweek.com/drew-brees-was…… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

As with any spring break, there was a lot of drinking and partying in Orlando. Whether 2024's political Super Bowl leads to a hangover or a parade (or both) is up to the players. But they can thank @drewbrees quite a bit for helping guide them.

newsweek.com/drew-brees-was…

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